Bracelet mask

ABSTRACT

A portable mask management device for handling at least one mask is disclosed. The device includes a mask holding container (“container”) having a sidewall and upper and lower peripheral rims, wherein an upper portion of the sidewall is attached with an upper base using the upper peripheral rim and a lower portion of the sidewall is attached with a lower base using the lower peripheral rim. The upper base seals an upper portion of the container and the lower base seals a lower portion of the container. The upper base and the lower base form a sealed volume in the container for holding the at least one mask, where the at least one mask is rolled inside of the sidewall of the container. The sidewall comprises a first aperture along a length of the sidewall in the container to allow movement of the at least one mask.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention generally relates to masks, and more specifically to a device for storing a mask.

Problem Statement and History Interpretation Considerations

This section describes technical field in detail and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. Therefore, statements in the section are not to be construed as prior art.

Discussion of History of the Problem

Generally, a mask refers to a wearing article covering the mouth and nose of a wearer to prevent cold from getting caught and fine foreign substances, dust, germs, viruses and various bacteria from entering the body through the wearer's respiratory system. The masks particularly have been used since the early 1900s (when the Spanish flu was spreading) and were developed with the aim of preventing a person from getting infected.

Similarly, in order to prevent spread of respiratory diseases (e.g., COVID-19 virus related diseases, new viruses such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) related diseases or the like) and suppress the pandemic caused by this outbreak, many local governments and countries around the globe have mandated wearing of face covering masks. Though, there are a variety of masks available in the market, however, there is no mechanism for managing the masks hygienically as well as aesthetically. That is, there is no devices for a mask holding device/system or a mask handling device/system capable of carrying and storing a mask hygienically while preventing the mask from being contaminated.

Hence, there is a need for a portable mask device capable of carrying and storing a mask so that it's conveniently available, as well as preventing the mask from being contaminated. The present invention provides such a portable mask management device.

SUMMARY

The above objective is solved by a portable mask management device comprising features of the claims. The present invention relates to a portable mask management device for handling one or more mask(s). The portable mask management device includes a mask holding container having a sidewall, an upper peripheral rim, and a lower peripheral rim, where an upper portion of the sidewall is attached with an upper base using the upper peripheral rim and a lower portion of the sidewall is attached with a lower base using the lower peripheral rim. The upper peripheral rim and the lower peripheral rim are constructed and arranged for receiving one or more rod movement controller(s) in the mask holding container. The upper base seals an upper portion of the mask holding container and the lower base seals a lower portion of the mask holding container. The upper base and the lower base form a sealed volume in the mask holding container for holding the one or more mask(s), where the one or more mask(s) is rolled inside of the sidewall of the mask holding container.

According to various embodiments, the sidewall is formed using two sub-walls, wherein the two sub-walls are symmetrical to each other and one or more hinge(s) is attached with the upper base and the lower base respectively to connect the two sub-walls of the sidewall. A portion of the sidewall comprises a first aperture along a length of the sidewall in the mask holding container to allow movement of the one or more mask(s), where a first end of the first aperture is coupled with the upper base and a second end of the first aperture is coupled with the lower base such that the first aperture allows an inside movement and an outside movement of the one or more mask(s).

The portable mask management device includes an upper side opening, a lower side opening, a roller arrangement and a knob. The upper side opening is formed in the upper base and the lower side opening is formed in the lower base. The roller arrangement is connected between the upper side opening and the lower side opening in the mask holding container. The knob is attached with the roller arrangement, where the one or more mask(s) is rolled into the mask holding container on the roller arrangement using the knob. The roller arrangement assists the movement of the one or more mask(s) in the mask holding container. The one or more mask(s) comprises tightening members, where one or more tightening member(s) is attached with the roller arrangement.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the roller arrangement includes a first rod, a second rod, and one or more rod movement controller(s). The one or more rod movement controller(s) controls the movement of the first rod in the mask holding container, where a diameter of the second rod is less than a diameter of the first rod such that the second rod passes through the first rod and holds the first rod and the one or more rod movement controller(s) in the roller arrangement.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the roller arrangement comprises a first rod and one or more rod movement controller(s), where the one or more rod movement controller(s) controls the movement of the first rod in the mask holding container.

The portable mask management device includes one or more handle(s) that assists a user to hold the mask holding container, where ends of a holding element connect with the one or more handle(s).

Of course, the present is simply a Summary, and not a complete description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention and its embodiment are better understood by referring to the following detailed description. To understand the invention, the detailed description should be read in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a portable mask management device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the portable mask management device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the portable mask management device.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate portable mask management device depicting a mask being rolled out from the portable mask management device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the alternate portable mask management device.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the alternate portable mask management device.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of the alternate portable mask management device.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Interpretation Considerations

While reading this section (Description of An Exemplary Preferred Embodiment, which describes the exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter referred to as “exemplary embodiment”), one should consider the exemplary embodiment as the best mode for practicing the invention during filing of the patent in accordance with the inventor's belief. As a person with ordinary skills in the art may recognize substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts to achieve the same results in the same manner, or in a dissimilar manner, the exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

The discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which the species belongs as well as related species in this genus. Similarly, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, as technology develops, numerous additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are incorporated within their respective genus and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

A function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of performing the function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated. For instance, sheet drying may be performed through dry or wet heat application, or by using microwaves. Therefore, the use of the word “paper drying” invokes “dry heating” or “wet heating” and all other modes of this word and similar words such as “pressure heating”.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising”) should be interpreted in the inclusive and not the exclusive sense.

As will be understood by those of the ordinary skill in the art, various structures and devices are depicted in the block diagram to not obscure the invention. In the following discussion, acts with similar names are performed in similar manners, unless otherwise stated.

The foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Words and phrases are to be accorded their ordinary, plain meaning, unless indicated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS, A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention resolves the issue of storing and carrying a mask hygienically and aesthetically while preventing the mask from being contaminated.

In opening, simultaneous reference is made to FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 , in which FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a portable mask management device 100 (aka “device”), FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of the portable mask management device 100, FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the portable mask management device 100, FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate portable mask management device 100 depicting a mask 115 being rolled out from the portable mask management device 100, FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective view of the alternate portable mask management device 100, FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the alternate portable mask management device 100, and FIG. 7 illustrates a side perspective view of the alternate portable mask management device 100.

The device 100 is made of wood, plastic, glass, metal, for example. The device 100 includes a mask holding container 105 (as shown in FIG. 2 ), an upper base 110 a, a lower base 110 b, at least one mask 115, a sidewall 120, an upper peripheral rim 125 a, a lower peripheral rim 125 b, a second aperture 130, an upper aperture closing end 135 a, a lower aperture closing end 135 b, one or more handles 140 a-140 d (as shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 ), an upper side opening 145 a, a lower side opening 145 b, a knob 150, a roller arrangement 155, a first rod 155 a, a second rod 155 b, one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b, a holding element 165, one or more hinges 170 a-170 b, one or more tightening members 180 a-180 b and a first aperture 185.

The mask holding container 105 (as shown in FIG. 2 ) may be in a cylindrical shape, a circular shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape. The shape of the mask holding container 105 does not limit the scope of the present invention. In an implementation, the mask holding container 105 may be transparent to indicate the position of the at least one mask 115 and a number of masks inside the mask holding container 105. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mask holding container 105 may include an ultraviolet (UV) light source (not shown) and a fan (not shown) for handling the mask 115 hygienically. In another implementation, an antiviral agent may be applied or adhered to an interior surface of the mask holding container 105 to enhance the antiviral function of the mask 115 as needed.

The mask holding container 105 comprises the sidewall 120, the upper peripheral rim 125 a, and the lower peripheral rim 125 b.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the sidewall 120 is formed of two sub-walls 121, 123 that are symmetrical to each other as shown in FIG. 1 , where one or more hinges 170 a-170 b are attached with/near the upper base 110 a and the lower base 110 b respectively to connect the two sub-walls 121, 123 of the sidewall 120. It may be noted that the position of the one or more hinges 170 a-170 b does not limit the scope of the present invention. In an embodiment, a sub-wall 121 from the two sub-walls 121, 123, the upper peripheral rim 125 a and the lower peripheral rim 125 b are in unibody configuration. In an alternate embodiment, a sub-wall 121 from the two sub-walls 121, 123, the upper peripheral rim 125 a and the lower peripheral rim 125 b are in multibody configuration.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the sidewall 120 is a single unit as depicted in FIG. 6 .

An upper portion of the sidewall 120 is attached with the upper base 110 a using the upper peripheral rim 125 a and a lower portion of the sidewall 120 is attached with the lower base 110 b using the lower peripheral rim 125 b, where the upper base 110 a seals an upper portion of the mask holding container 105 and the lower base 110 b seals a lower portion of the mask holding container 105. The upper peripheral rim 125 a and the lower peripheral rim 125 b are formed as an integral part of the mask holding container 105. The upper peripheral rim 125 a and the lower peripheral rim 125 b are constructed and arranged to receive the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b in the mask holding container 105. The upper base 110 a and the lower base 110 b form a sealed volume in the mask holding container 105 for holding the at least one mask 115, wherein the mask 115 is rolled inside of the sidewall 120 of the mask holding container 105.

Further, the sidewall 120 includes the first aperture 185 (as shown in FIG. 3 , FIG. 4 , FIG. 6 , and FIG. 7 ) along a length of the sidewall 120 to allow movement of the at least one mask 115. A first end of the first aperture 185 is coupled with the upper base 110 a and a second end of the first aperture 185 is coupled with the lower base 110 b such that the first aperture 185 allows an inside movement (“retraction”) and an outside movement (“pulled out”) of the at least one mask 115 in/from the mask holding container 105.

The device 100 comprises the second aperture 130, where one end of the second aperture 130 (as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 ) is provided with the upper aperture closing end 135 a and another end of the second aperture 130 is provided with the lower aperture closing end 135 b. A size of the second aperture 130 is determined by a length and a size of the at least one mask 115. The upper aperture closing end 135 a and the lower aperture closing end 135 b are formed space apart from each other.

The device 100 further includes the upper side opening 145 a, the lower side opening 145 b, the roller arrangement 155 and the knob 150. The upper side opening 145 a and the lower side opening 145 b are formed in the upper base 110 a and the lower base 110 b respectively. The roller arrangement 155 is connected between the upper side opening 145 a and the lower side opening 145 b in the mask holding container 105. The at least one mask 115 is rolled on the roller arrangement 155 and the roller arrangement 155 assists the movement of the at least one mask 115 in the mask holding container 105. The roller arrangement 155 assists rotation of the at least one mask 115 at a set angle inside the mask holding container 105, where a space is formed between the roller arrangement 155 and the sidewall 120.

In an embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 ), the roller arrangement 155 includes the first rod 155 a, the second rod 155 b, and the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b. A diameter of the second rod 155 b is less than a diameter of the first rod 155 a such that the second rod 155 b passes through the first rod 155 a and holds the first rod 155 a and the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b in the roller arrangement 155, where the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b control the movement of the first rod 155 a in the mask holding container 105.

In another embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 4 through FIG. 7 ), the roller arrangement 155 includes the first rod 155 a and the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b (as shown in FIG. 6 ), wherein the one or more rod movement controllers 160 a-160 b control the movement of the first rod 155 a in the mask holding container 105.

The knob 150 is attached with the roller arrangement 155. The knob 150 can be made of metal, plastic, rubber or the like. The at least one mask 115 is rolled into the mask holding container 105 using the knob 150. The at least one mask 115 can be, for example, but not limited to, a cloth mask, a respirator cartridge face mask, a reusable mask, a surgical mask, an N95 respirator mask, a fine dust blocking mask. The at least one mask 115 is made of cloth, plastic or other suitable material known in the art. The at least one mask 115 comprises the one or more tightening members 180 a-180 b and a filter respirator (not shown). The one or more tightening members 180 a-180 b can be mask straps, thread shaped tightening members, wire shaped tightening members, mask hook strings or the like. The one or more tightening members 180 a-180 b are made of cloth, plastic or the like. One tightening member 180 a of the at least one mask 115 is formed opposite side of another tightening member 180 b of the at least one mask 115. The tightening member 180 b (as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 ) is attached with the roller arrangement 155. The tightening members 180 a-180 b allow to adjust a length of the at least one mask 115 based on the user requirement. The filter respirator (not shown) allows inhalation and exhalation through a breathable portion of the at least one mask 115. In an implementation, the at least one mask 115 includes a mask body (not shown) with an outer pad (not shown), a liquid/air filter pad (not shown), and an inner pad (not shown) in order to increase a blocking rate for filtering fine dust while smoothly introducing air for inhalation.

The device 100 includes the one or more handles 140 a-140 d that assist a user to hold the mask holding container 105 ergonomically using the holding element 165. The one or more handles 140 a-140 d connect with ends of the holding element 165. In an embodiment, the handles 140 a-140 b are placed on the sidewall 120. Alternatively, the handles 140 c-140 d are connected with a portion of the upper base 110 a and a portion of the lower base 110 b. It may be noted that the position of the one or more handles 140 a-140 d does not limit the scope of the present invention. The holding element 165 may be formed of metal, plastic, cloth or any other suitable material.

It is to be noted that although FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 are described in view of only one mask, however, the proposed device 100 is applicable to handle more than one mask.

Advantageously, the proposed device 100 can store the at least one mask 115 hygienically and prevent the growth of contaminants. The device 100 may have antibacterial, antiviral and phytoncide functions, so as to improve the hygiene of the at least one mask 115.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although systems and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of equivalent systems are described above.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with specific illustrative embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended to include within the invention, all such variations and departures that fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

TABLE LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS Reference numeral Element Name Portable mask management device 100 Mask holding container 105 Upper base 110a Lower base 110b At least one mask 115 Sidewall 120 Two sub-walls 121, 123 Upper peripheral rim 125a Lower peripheral rim 125b Second aperture 130 Upper aperture closing end 135a Lower aperture closing end 135b One or more handles 140a-140d Upper side opening 145a Lower side opening 145b Knob 150 Roller arrangement 155 First rod 155a Second rod 155b One or more rod movement controllers 160a-160b Holding element 165 One or more hinges 170a-170b One or more tightening members 180a-180b First aperture 185 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable mask management device for handling at least one mask comprising: a mask holding container having a sidewall, an upper peripheral rim, and a lower peripheral rim; an upper portion of the sidewall attached with an upper base using the upper peripheral rim, the upper base sealing an upper portion of the mask holding container; a lower portion of the sidewall attached with a lower base using the lower peripheral rim, the lower base sealing a lower portion of the mask holding container; the upper base and the lower base forming a sealed volume in the mask holding container for holding the at least one mask, wherein the at least one mask is rolled inside of the sidewall of the mask holding container; and at least one portion of the sidewall comprises a first aperture along a length of the sidewall in the mask holding container to allow movement of the at least one mask.
 2. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein a first end of the first aperture is coupled with the upper base and a second end of the first aperture is coupled with the lower base such that the first aperture allows an inside movement and an outside movement of the at least one mask.
 3. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein an upper side opening is formed in the upper base; a lower side opening is formed in the lower base; a roller arrangement is connected between the upper side opening and the lower side opening in the mask holding container; and a knob attached with the roller arrangement, wherein the at least one mask is rolled on the roller arrangement and the roller arrangement assists the movement of the at least one mask in the mask holding container, wherein the at least one mask is rolled into the mask holding container using the knob, and wherein a space is formed between the roller arrangement and the sidewall.
 4. The portable mask management device of claim 3 wherein the roller arrangement comprises a first rod, a second rod, and at least one rod movement controller, wherein the at least one rod movement controller controls the movement of the first rod in the mask holding container, wherein a diameter of the second rod is less than a diameter of the first rod such that the second rod passes through the first rod and holds the first rod and the at least one rod movement controller in the roller arrangement.
 5. The portable mask management device of claim 3 wherein the roller arrangement comprises a first rod and at least one rod movement controller, wherein the at least one rod movement controller controls the movement of the first rod in the mask holding container.
 6. The portable mask management device of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the upper peripheral rim and the lower peripheral rim are constructed and arranged for receiving the at least one rod movement controller in the mask hol ding container.
 7. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein one end of a second aperture is provided with an upper aperture closing end and another end of the second aperture is provided with a lower aperture closing end, wherein the upper aperture closing end and the lower aperture closing end are formed space apart from each other.
 8. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein at least one handle assists a user to hold the mask holding container, wherein ends of a holding element connect with at least one handle.
 9. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein at least one handle assists a user to hold the mask holding container, wherein ends of a holding element connect with a portion of the tipper base and a portion of the lower base.
 10. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein the sidewall is formed using two sub-walls, wherein the two sub-walls are symnetrical to each other and at least one hinge is attached with the upper base and the lower base respectively to connect the two sub-walls of the sidewall.
 11. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the lower peripheral rim and the upper peripheral rim is formed as an integral part of the mask holding container.
 12. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein the at least one mask comprises tightening members, wherein at least one tightening member is attached with the roller arrangement, wherein the at least one mask comprises a filter respirator to allow inhalation and exhalation through a breathable portion of the least one mask.
 13. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein the portable mask management device is made of at least one of wood, plastic, glass and metal, wherein the at least one mask is made of at least one of cloth and plastic.
 14. The portable mask management device of claim 1 wherein a shape of the mask holding container is in at least one of a cylindrical, circular, square and rectangular. 